by USA TODAY Sports, USA TODAY

by USA TODAY Sports, USA TODAY

HOUSTON - The Los Angeles Clippers almost are assured of finishing with the best record in town this season. That makes them the talk of the City of Angels, the team everyone roots for, the team dominating headlines. Right?

OK, even their best player isn't buying any of that.

"We have definitely not taken over the (Los Angeles) Lakers' popularity in L.A. And I don't see that happening anytime soon," point guard Chris Paul said Friday in Houston. "It is what it is. At the end of the day it's all about winning ballgames. And that's what we're trying to do."

They've done it well, finishing the first half with a dominant win against the Lakers. Paul had 24 points and 13 assists Thursday in a 125-101 victory.

The Clippers clinched the season series with the Lakers for the first time in 20 years, beating their Staples Center co-tenants three consecutive times to start the season.